Safety and security issues, articles, discussion.

[ozbob]

this afternoon i saw a dude trying to insert a syringe needle into the split between the cushions in emu 79s quiet carriage. i confronted him, thinking at first that he was doing graffiti, and deliberately sat nearby and kept an eye on him and his accomplice who had been keeping lookout (poorly). i also got photos of him and the seat as it was left; the needle on the floor under it from when i startled him. queensland rail and the police now have the pictures. it is sickening and incredibly disturbing that people could have the thoughts go through their brain to even consider doing this. i know it isnt new behaviour, as i remember in 2010 or 2011 there was a news article about the same thing happening back then.

Good work, thanks.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/12/10/security-boost-for-christmas

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Security boost for Christmas

Passengers will be safer when travelling across the south-east Queensland public transport network this Christmas with seven new Senior Network Officers set to graduate this month.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the new recruits would bring the force to 59 officers in time for the busy festive season.

"The Newman LNP Government has a strong plan to make Queensland the safest place to live, travel and raise a family," Mr Emerson said.

"The new Senior Network Officer team will graduate on 18 December helping to make public transport safer for both passengers and staff.

"The latest recruits are part of our recent promise to deliver 18 additional officers, bringing the total team to 70 by mid-2015."

Mr Emerson said the new officers would play a key role in efforts to curb anti-social behaviour and reduce fare evasion.

"TransLink teams work closely with operators, the police and private security officers to tackle anti-social behaviour on the public transport network," Mr Emerson said.

"While Labor has no plans to improve the safety of the network, we have taken a proactive approach to targeting anti-social behaviour.

"Our policies are delivering results, which has seen a 23 per cent reduction in assaults on bus drivers across south-east Queensland and a 50 per cent decrease on the Gold Coast compared to the previous Labor government.

"We still know there's more to be done so we're continuously increasing the number of Senior Network Officers and conducting blitzes on the network."

Before graduating, all Senior Network Officers have to undertake an intensive eight-week course, which covers legislative powers, tactical and physical training, and conflict management.

They also undergo criminal history checks, psychometric testing, and a medical examination.

[ENDS]

[ozbob]

Twitter

Scott Emerson ‏@scottemerson 9 seconds ago

Latest group of Senior Network Officers who'll graduate in time for Xmas & make public transport even safer #qldpol

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison

Anti-bomb bins (#canIsaythat) at #Caboolture rail station. Manufactuted in plastic with transparent body and liners.

[Arnz]

On another note, the QR-staffed TransLink Transit Officers unit (TTOs) have gotten new Grey uniforms with QR insignia replacing the old TTO insignia (and some even wear QR staff badges), and assumably as a result of those sightings the past week or two it looks like the TTO branding has been discontinued and have been rebranded back into 'QR Transit Officers' that are basically going to patrol the rail network only (Still with the same duties as the SNOs minus the detain powers of TL's SNOs).

Edit: They were sighted today around the rail network doing the same duties that they were doing when they were branded as TTOs.

[techblitz]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/three-charged-over-robbery-at-auchenflower-train-station/story-fnn8dlfs-1227173912711

Sep 10

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pair-attacked-in-auchenflower-robbery-20140909-10eq4p.html

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Man seriously injured in electric shock at Gold Coast railway station

[HappyTrainGuy]

oh wow, at 8:30 last night two guys entered the rail yards at tennyson with the intention of doing graffiti and the 26 year old got suffered an electric shock. apparently he had deep burns to 90% of his body. that should be fatal. i cant see any info on whether he is still alive or not, but last i heard he was at the royal brisbane and womens hospital, and his 19 year old accomplice was assisting police.

while i disagree with their intention to graffiti rail property, its tragic that this has happened, and while i hope the dude is ok, i can see how a human can survive burns that horrific. not to mention the high voltage that went through his body would most likely have carried a huge current. from what i remember of high school physics, its not the volts that kill you, its the amps. at the risk of sounding heartless, i hope this serves as a deterrent for people wishing to damage property, else they suffer a similar fate. i hope this poor dude pulls through for his sake. 26 is still really young. i just dont see how one can survive with burns to 90% of their body though....

This won't be a deterrent in the very slightest bit even if he dies. It's happened before and it will happen again.

Didn't have to wait long

[petey3801]

And it wasn't even the first one this week! Some idiot scaled the High Voltage lines in the Nerang carpark last week (or the week before... Recently!). He was "smart" enough to grab the wire with both hands to help himself up, ended up boiling from the inside out pretty much. Lasted a few days in hospital, but died soon after.

[darthcaligula666]

i guess no matter how optimistic i am that people would have a desire to preserve their own life, no one can overcome the power of natural selection at work. if you are dumb enough to risk your life doing the wrong thing, you should be prepared for the consequences; whatever they may be. i still hope these idiots do learn from the tragic way their companions are dying; though not even one as eternally positive as moi holds out much hope. there will always be idiots in this world. it is such a waste of life.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Didn't hear the whole story but someone else was electrocuted last night. Not sure of the station but it involved climbing the stations footbridge.

[ozbob]

TWU - QLD Bus attack figures --> http://www.twu.com.au/home/campaigns/bus-safety-now/bus-attacks--new-statewide-figures-released-today/

[darthcaligula666]

the people in the first quiet carriage tonight on the ipswich train were treated to a chorus of four letter words beginning with the letter f, as a small group of idiots and a woman with her child began swearing at one another. they were still on the train when karen left the service at around 7. she was too scared to open a packet of chips in case they confronted her demanding a share of the contents. people shouldnt have to be afraid of other passengers on their train of an evening; though sadly this is so common on the ipswich line that it is more unusual if it doesnt happen then if it does.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queenslanders avoiding buses and trains due to danger of assault

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't catch the bus at night because I don't have a bus to catch at night.

[ozbob]

I don't catch the bus at night because I don't have a bus to catch at night.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Train guard sits on alleged attacker at Thornside

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 4 minutes ago

A Perth railway worker has been ht by a train > http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/26257580/train-tragedy-kills-worker/ ... via @Yahoo7

[ozbob]

For interest ..

============

Twitter

Taras Grescoe @grescoe

Japanese train platform doors stop riders falling on tracks. (And they're really cool.) Video: http://bit.ly/1MjMLlS 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Drunks dice with death on train tracks

[ozbob]

7 News Near miss at QLD train station

https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/26565323/near-miss-at-qld-train-station/?cmp=twitter

[dancingmongoose]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/boy-hit-by-bus-in-brisbane-20150325-1m7a5w.html

A 16-year-old boy is in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a bus while riding his bike in Brisbane's bayside area.

Paramedics were called to the corner of Joseph Street and Oxley Avenue at Margate this morning.

Authorities earlier said the boy was 12.

The extent of his injuries is still unknown but a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson says he's in a serious condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

EARLIER

A boy struck by a bus in Brisbane's bayside area has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Paramedics were called to the corner of Joseph Street and Oxley Avenue at Margate on Wednesday morning.

The extent of the boy's injuries are still unknown but he is in a serious condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

[red dragin]

Radio reported no helmet.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jonathan Lea @JonathanLea10  1 hour ago

Police tell me man was hit by express train's mirror at Woodridge Station. On phone not paying attention @tennewsqld

[colinw]

Gold Coast Bulletin ->
One guard dog and a man patrol most dangerous stations on Gold Coast rail line

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Passenger photographs Brisbane bus driver reading newspaper 'in heavy traffic'

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> The things we leave behind on trains

ALMOST 14,000 lost items were handed in from across the Brisbane city train network — and it's not just mobile phones and wallets that are left behind.

On the City line, items recently handed in include a mannequin, crutches, a rocking horse, boat paddles and several prams.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Rail said last year some very important items were returned to passengers.

"We ended up returning 21 birth certificates, a marriage certificate and four rings of considerable value including a men's wedding ring and a platinum diamond ring," she said.

Queensland Rail said on the Ipswich line alone, 854 lost items were processed in 2014, with Ipswich station stopping the list at 334 items, and Toowong station with 107 items.

The spokeswoman said some of the more unusual items spotted on the Ipswich line were musical instruments, boxing gloves, a mouth guard and camping equipment, including a sleeping bag, chair and Esky, fishing rods and a tackle box.

She said items regularly found were glasses and sunglasses, umbrellas, backpacks, toiletries, wallets, mobile phones, keys and computers and tablets.

Queensland Rail's lost property team exhausts every avenue trying to reunite property with its owners, but unfortunately thousands of items are often left unclaimed, she said.

"We are often surprised by what people leave behind on trains, and the sheer volume of lost property processed at our Roma Street Lost Property Office," the spokeswoman said.

If lost items haven't been picked up after three months, Queensland Rail donates them to not-for-profit charity partners.

Number of items found by train line

City and inner suburbs (Roma Street to Milton, Eagle Junction and Park Road) — 9031

Gold Coast — 1267

Ipswich — 854

Beenleigh — 780

Caboolture/Sunshine Coast — 378

Cleveland — 301

Shorncliffe- 291

Ferny Grove — 139

Doomben — 5

Other (Found on train by cleaners or handed into train guard) — 714

If you think you have left something on a train, fill out an online lost property form at queenslandrail.com.au

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> QldRail staff test positive to alcohol, drugs

[ozbob]

Twitter

Kellie Scott ‏@kellie_scott 5m

Commuters give the nod to bus and train security screening http://www.mx.net.au/-/bfe28351c4181a7e8df24acb89a8744e/ ... via @mX @simonfifer @UniversitySA

[ozbob]

7 News --> Investigation into Brisbane bus crashes

[ozbob]

Last night Seven News Brisbane aired a feature highlighting the dangers of rushing and not taking care when travelling on the rail network.

>> https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1002208963130797

[HappyTrainGuy]

Last night Seven News Brisbane aired a feature highlighting the dangers of rushing and not taking care when travelling on the rail network.

>> https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1002208963130797

I love those news reports. Should be more of them. More so because of the footage

[techblitz]

Dont run to the platform QR? easier said than done....
Just had to sprint to my inbound train @petrie after the 680 arrives 13 mins late.....on a 13 minute connection window.....the sprint saved me an exact 30 minute wait for the next inbound....

[HappyTrainGuy]

680 running late? You don't say.

[ozbob]

Speeding buses caught on camera

FIRST ON 7: Brisbane City Council buses are being caught on camera speeding or running red lights around once a day. Alison Sandy reports.

>> https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/28463636/speeding-buses-caught-on-camera/#page1

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Qld teens threw concrete at bus: police (Townsville)

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane City Council bus drivers hit emergency activation buttons more than 2000 times in the past 18 months

BRISBANE City Council bus drivers are under attack with threats of both physical violence, spitting and verbal abuse.

Figures obtained by Quest Newspapers show drivers hit their emergency activation buttons 1804 times in 2014 and 630 times this year to April.

While there were 288 and 112 accidental hits in the two time frames, the figures revealed drivers were involved in critical incidents on average four times per day.

Queensland Rail Tram and Bus Union assistant secretary and bus driver for 30 years Tom Brown said weekends were the most dangerous time for drivers.

"It probably happens from Thursday night onwards where crowds are ... and taxis are hard to find," Mr Brown said.

"Basically they are trying to get from place to place ... usually something happens over the fare and the next thing you know you're in danger.

"For the guys that work those late shifts it would be a regular thing, but more and more people from all sorts of shifts are reporting that it can happen anywhere."

Queensland Rail Tram and Bus Union secretary Owen Doogan said drivers had experienced a range of attacks.

"We have had drivers who have been spat on and we have had drivers who have been physically assaulted ... by both adults and school kids but the worst time is the weekend," Mr Doogan said.

"Unfortunately some people seem to take that aggression out on drivers who are just doing their jobs.

"We're certainly not discouraging people from using public transport, we would just like to ensure it's as safe as possible."

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said his administration took the safety of passengers and bus drivers very seriously.

"Our bus drivers are on the front-line every day providing an essential public service and frankly it's appalling that anyone would abuse or attack them for doing their job," Cr Quirk said.

"We're certainly not discouraging people from using public transport, we would just like to ensure it's as safe as possible."

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said his administration took the safety of passengers and bus drivers very seriously.

"Our bus drivers are on the front-line every day providing an essential public service and frankly it's appalling that anyone would abuse or attack them for doing their job," Cr Quirk said.

"Council aims to create a safe and enjoyable environment on buses and encourages passengers who have witnessed any physical or verbal assault, whether between passengers or to drivers, to report the behaviour to police immediately, to assist in the apprehension of offenders.

"Our bus drivers play a vital role in keeping Brisbane moving, and I commend them on the excellent service they deliver."

Cr Quirk said council had increased the level of CCTV on buses to 72 per cent.

"This number is increasing all the time as every new bus that is rolled out by council has CCTV cameras fitted," he said.

"Drivers are also able to make use of two-way radio communication with Brisbane Transport's Network Coordination Centre to request assistance or report concerns."

He said all bus drivers undertook extensive training to equip them to manage difficult situations.

"Additionally, TransLink Senior Network Officers (SNOs) patrol the bus network to deter anti-social behaviour," Cr Quirk said.

He said council had also installed shatter-proof windows to protect against projectiles.

THE NEED FOR CCTV

ALL Brisbane City Council buses must be equipped with CCTV cameras says ALP councillor and shadow chair of the Public and Active Transport committee Steve Griffiths.

It follows revelations that just 62 per cent of buses were equipped with CCTV cameras at a recent committee meeting.

While the council has since revealed it has now increased its cameras to 72 per cent, Cr Griffiths said it was not good enough.

'There is obviously a real problem with the number of times bus drives are activating their emergency buttons which have safety implications for both passengers and drivers," Cr Griffiths said.

"It is also incredible that almost 40 per cent (38 per cent) of buses do not have any CCTV.

"You really have to ask why council is neglecting this issue.

"Safety for our passengers and drivers must come first."
Cr Steve Griffiths says all buses should be equipped with CCTV. PICTURE: Jono Searle.

Independent Tennyson ward councillor Nicole Johnston said she was surprised at the level of CCTV cameras on board council buses.

"CCTV on trains has been proven to be very useful in capturing footage of offenders or offensive behaviour," Cr Johnston said.

"CCTV on all council buses would be an important safety improvement for passengers and bus drivers alike."

Cr Steve Griffiths said he was also disappointed that the council did not keep a record of the number of time police were called out after the activation of emergency buttons.

"Council needs to collect this information and it needs to be reported on annually, so that residents and drivers know that council is serious about making sure out buses are safe," he said

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Qlders feel safest on commuter trains, national study shows

Queensland rail commuters felt safer on night trains than their counterparts in other states, new research has revealed.

A survey by consumer research firm Canstar Blue found 57 per cent of Queensland rail commuters felt safe travelling at night, well ahead of New South Wales (50 per cent), Victoria (46 per cent), South Australia (45 per cent) and Western Australia (40 per cent).

Queenslanders also had the lowest rate of witnessing anti-social behaviour on trains, with 45 per cent reporting having witnessed such behaviour.

That compared favourably to NSW (50 per cent), Victoria and SA (49 per cent), and WA (47 per cent).

Robert Dow from public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track said Brisbane's commuter train network had made great inroads when it came to passenger safety.

"Every service after 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays has security guards on it – every service," he said.

"Now that's very good and it's clearly coming up in the data.

"Queensland Rail would be almost level pegging with TransPerth if it had a better fare structure, but that's out of its control."

Ninety-two per cent of Queensland rail commuters said they felt safe during daytime travel, compared to 91 per cent in WA, 90 per cent in NSW, 87 per cent in Victoria and 86 per cent in South Australia.

The threat of terrorism had made just 17 per cent of Queenslanders more concerned about catching public transport.

Overall satisfaction in rail networks was highest among TransPerth users, followed by Adelaide Metro, then Queensland Rail, Sydney Trains and Metro Trains in Melbourne.

Mr Dow said Queensland Rail would likely top the list if it were not for one issue.

"It clearly indicates we've got a problem with fares in south-east Queensland," he said.

"Apart than that, Queensland Rail is performing at a very good level."

Research by the same company, released last month, revealed most Queenslanders were put off using public transport because of the cost, saying it was cheaper to drive.

Canstar Blue general manager Megan Doyle said there were "a lot of factors" that added up for the overall rail experience.

"It only needs one of them to go wrong to leave passengers feeling thoroughly fed up," he said.

"Keeping everything on track is a monumental task and a thankless one.

"I'm sure most people can understand that, from time to time, things will go wrong and they may be delayed or forced to stand on an overcrowded train.

"But if this becomes the norm, rather than the exception, then they will have good reason to feel aggrieved, particularly if the cost of travel is already a sore point."

[ozbob]

^

Canstar Blue

City Trains Reviewed >> http://www.canstarblue.com.au/travel/city-trains/

[ozbob]

^

Canstar Blue

City Trains Reviewed >> http://www.canstarblue.com.au/travel/city-trains/

Booked for an interview 12.20pm on this on 4BC Afternoons.